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5th Pastoral Letter of the Bishop of Acqui

against the faith as well as against Christian morals? However,
when the war is pushed to such an excess, and our enemies
multiply their assaults against religion to bring it down, if that
were possible, it is urgent that the faithful come to its defense
courageously and render it a more solemn testimony with their
words and works. All must remember the teaching of Jesus
Christ that it is not sufficient to believe his doctrine interiorly,
but we have to profess it exteriorly and not be ashamed of him
before men in order that we may not be disowned by him before
his Heavenly Father.
This, Venerable Brothers and Beloved Children, is the
precept of Jesus Christ. It indicates the condition without which
we cannot attain eternal salvation. In it is the most expressed
and formal condemnation of what is called human respect,
which is taht deadly poison which the world, in order to cover
with scorn the teaching of the Gospel, the practices of piety,
Christian duties, and to deride those who preach their
observation, instills into the souls of so many faithful, and
among whom unfortunately they obtain two results, which are
the true object of its desires: to keep far from religion those who
have already abandoned it, and to withdraw from it little by little
those weak and vacillating persons who lack the courage to
show themselves openly as Christians for fear of criticism and
scorn.
Who after having become disciples of Jesus in holy
Baptism, and so many times renewed their promises to remain
faithful at whatever cost of effort and sacrifice, would later
allow themselves to be caught in this trap to bend their neck
under such an ignominious yoke? In God's mercy, we are happy
to affirm, to the glory of this beloved Diocese, that there is still a
consoling number of those who remain strong in the faith and
firm in the observance of their religious duties. However, we
cannot help but deplore that even among our population the
contagious sickness of human respect is spreading.

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